tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501239684776771639.post6138923225986997777..comments2024-03-22T16:41:43.282+00:00Comments on Bangor to Bobbio: Pray for the Church in IrelandFr Seán Coylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02287947090085700335noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501239684776771639.post-57328263721959895422010-02-22T08:26:06.543+00:002010-02-22T08:26:06.543+00:00Shane, I've been away from the net for a few d...Shane, I've been away from the net for a few days. I'll try to respond to your questions in my next post. Thanks for your substantial comment.Fr Seán Coylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05432610859468495578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501239684776771639.post-86638533409340987702010-02-18T14:05:48.653+00:002010-02-18T14:05:48.653+00:00It must be very hard for priests in Ireland. I see...It must be very hard for priests in Ireland. I see elderly nuns strolling the streets and its clear they have to take the rap. Fr Benedict Groeschel has travelled all over Europe and the only place he was ever verbally abused for his habit was in Ireland. There was a call to the Joe Duffy show a few years ago by an Anglican minister at St Patricks or Christchurch complaining that people often mistook him for a priest and that he constantly suffered verbal slurs from Dublin's 'concerned citizens'. 'Irish Catholic' used to be worn as a badge of pride, not it's seen as something to ashamed of. The Church was slipping before the scandals, but the Revisionist historical movement and the revelations of Bishop Casey had the effect of tarnishing a once venerated institution, and making Catholics feel 'guilty' for all their past.<br /><br />Given that you do not live in Ireland, and come home intermittently, you'd be better positioned to observe the decline in Irish Catholicism than I am. I'm curious so, if I may ask you, how different do you find modern Ireland from the Ireland of your childhood? Do you like the New Ireland? How is it substantially different? How is it observedly more secular and are you hopeful that the faith will be revitalized in Ireland? If so, how can church leaders advance it? Do you discern a lack of morale among your fellow clergy? Thanks.Shanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17928370458039274600noreply@blogger.com